Artsiom Dubski received this sentence under Article 415 of the Belarusian Criminal Code (CC) for evasion from serving personal restraint.
Previously Dubski got 2 years in jail as a defendant in the so-called "Process of 14." In April 2008, he and 13 other young men were prosecuted for taking part in a peaceful demonstration of private entrepreneurs in Minsk on 10 January that year. Young people were convicted under article 342 of the CC.
Radio Liberty informs that while serving the term, Dubski was groundlessly charged with allegedly using somebody else’s SIM-card to access internet. In addition, police wrote up Dubski for not being constantly at home, as his house arrest terms stipulated, and began harassing the young man with one more criminal case. This urged Dubski to flee the country and go to Ukraine and, consequently, to criminal charges under article 415 of CC.
Amnesty International considered young people, including Dubski, jailed in the "Process of 14" prisoners of conscience. However, the calls on the part of international community and Belarusian civil society to release the youth were neglected by the Belarusian authorities.
Aliaksandr Makayeu, the Head of the Coordinating Council of Minsk entrepreneurs, considers this court verdict a typical act of lawlessness, “which violates people’s rights to assembly, association and free speech guaranteed in the Constitution of Belarus.” Makayeu is certain that Dubski was sentenced for supporting entrepreneurs’ demonstration and defending their right to work. “That is why we will do everything we can to demand his release,” Makayeu says.
On 8 July Dubski’s colleagues and friends, Young Front activists, started a campaign for his release. Human Rights Centre Viasna expressed its strong disagreement with the court decision and demanded an immediate release of Artsiom Dubski. Viasna is also persistent in its call upon the Belarusian authorities to stop political repressions against the country’s citizens. In addition, Viasna demands amnesty for all young people in the "Process of 14."
Ales Bialiatski, the head of HRC Viasna, comments on the Dubski case, “He got this sentence for expressing his opinion and taking part in a street demonstration.”
Related links
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